Tire-plug.



PATENTED SEPT. 8, 1908. R. SAMPSON.

TIRE PLUG.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 29, 1907.

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www Foz l through a puncture m a section o UNED .STA-

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ROBEBTSAMPSQN, OF MONTREAL, QUEBEC, CANADA.

Patented Sept. 8, 1908.

To all whom it. may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT SAMPsoN, a subject of the Kingdom of Great Britain, residing at Montreal, Province of Quebec, and Donnnion of Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tire-Plugs, of which the following is a specification.'

My invention relates to a puncture closer which embodies a head pivoted or hinged upon thev end of a shank, the head being a apted to be brought parallel with the shank, or' approximately so, and passed through a puncture or opening in a pneumatic tire or similar article, and held against the under-side of the puncture by means of the shank and suitable holding mechanism; and my improvements consist in certain particulars'which are hereinafter more fully set forth.

In'the drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation.of one of lmy improved plugs; Fig. 2 is a similar view taken at right angles to Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a vertical view, with the head in section, of one of my plugs bein inserted i I an inner tube; Fig. 4 showsthe plug inserted and clamped in place-below the puncture;l Fig. 5 is a bottom view of one of my plugs with the rubber covering partially broken away to show the end of the shank and the metal head; Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view of an inner tube with one of my improved plugs applied lthereto and wi-th the end ofv the shank cut off and Fig. 7 is a modification wherein a metal face is substituted for the rubber covering of the head; and Figs. 8 and 9 are respectively a vertical sectional view and a bottom view of a modification.

Similar letters of reference designate similar parts in all the figures.

.A, is a screw-threaded shank provided with an offset or handle a, at its outer end, to afford a grip for rotating the shank, and

'with an oiset T-headb, at its lower end,

which is shown as connected with the vertical portion of the shank by a curved neck c, and which engages in a socket d, in the metal head D, which head is preferably stamped from a piece of sheet metal, and is provided -with an approximately flat rim e, and longitudinal rib or elevation f, and a central socket d.

Around the metal head D I mold a rubber covering G, which is, preferably, circular in outline, its upper face being approximately flat and its lower face being convex. The

the sides ofthe metal head D, are reduced in thickness, as indicated by g g, so as to make those portions of the rubber thinner and .portions of this rubber covering adjacent to' more iiexible, and permit their edges to fold more readily around the shank when the plug is rolled together, as shown in Fig. 3,

and also so as to permit the said sides to conform more readily to the inner curve of a tire, as shown in Fig. 6.`

When the plug has been inserted through the puncture the edges of the puncture are necessarily more or less stretched and displaced; and, particularly in the case of inner tubes, there is a tendency for the edges to creep or slip from beneath the clamping cap H, when it is applied directly upon the tire. To more eectually hold the edges of the puncture in position, and prevent such slipping and displacement, I interpose between the cap H and the tire, a iiexible but non-extensible disk I, preferably composed of a thickness of canvas or similar material i, provided upon its under face with a coating of cement or the like, to assist in securing it more eli'ectually over the puncture.

In use, the head of the plu isvswung into the position shown in Fig. 3, tIie curved neck c slipping up through the central hole in the metal head D, and the cross head b engaging centrally under the sides of the socket d. The edgesA of the rubber are -then folded around the shank A, in Fig. 3, c being a section of the edge coming from the rear, and Z being a section Vof the edge folded from the front; and the plug, having been coated with cement to facilitate its passage through the puncture land to assist in joining it to the under side of the tube L, is pushed through the uncture and again swung at right angles to t e shank A, and drawn up against the' under side of the puncture, as shown in Fig. 4, the curved neck c, passing down through the central opening in the metal head D, and the cross head b, slipping out toward the circumference of the socket d, and the cement J, serving to bind the rubber head covering G, to the under side of the tube L. The disk I is then slid down the shank soas to rest over the puncture, fresh cement vbeing. referably applied between the disk I andp the tubing and, uniting with the cement coating y', serving tot attach the disk I to the outer surface of the tubing. The cap H is then run down the shank A, on top of the disk I, and the shank is then, by means of the handle a,

screwed up through the cap H, the T-head b, rotating in the socketd, the punctured portion-otl the tire being thus securely gripped between the upper and lovsrerI members ofthe plug so that the edges of the puncture cannot slip or creep from between the clampingmembers of the plug.

I have shown my plug as applied to a section of'an inner tube, in which case the function of the disk I, in holding the edges ofthe puncture, is most important. But I vwish it to be understood that my plug can also be applied yto the'built up tube of asingle tube tire, and to unctures and openings 1n other similar artic es.

The modification shown in Fig. 7 embodies the novel features of the connection between clogging the'shank by the spreading voi thev the shank A and head D, but instead of a rubber covering for the head D, I have shown in that igure a metal face M as crimped around the edges of the head D.

In molding the rubber covering around the metal head, 1t is necessary to carefully avoid plastic rubber into the o ening around the neck of the shank and be ow its head. This may be efectually accomplished' by making the walls ofthesocket d a triie dee er and more abrupt, as shown in Fig. 8, aidli ing the bottom of the socket by a disk or Washer, M, of metal or other material pressed thereinto; and in addition to this I raise the .crown of the socket d above the face of the rubber G, yso as to prevent the smearing of the rubber through its central opening or around the shank A.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, .is:-

1. In a tire plug, the combination of a head, having a socket therein, with a shank provided with an onset end slidably engaging' *within said socket, and a clamp cooperating `with said shank.

' 2L In a tire plug, the combination of a head, having a socket therein, with-a shank rovided with an oiset end, formed by bending the shank to one side, rotatably engaging within said socket, and a clamp cqperating with said shank.

3. In a Vtire plug, the combination of a y closv esmas provided with an off-set end slidably and rotatably engaging within said socket, and

cooperating with saidshank.

head having gagin within saidv socket, apco threa `ed -upon said shank, an non-elastic, member embodying a textile body with a layer of cement upon the under side thereof carried upon said shank between said head and .said cap.

5. In a tire. plug, the combination` of a head embodying an elongated, dished, metallic member having a central o ening therethrough, and embedded in a mus room cap of rubber, having reduced, lateral edges, a threaded shank provided with an offset T end rotatably and slidably engaging through and beneath said metallic head, a clamping cap threaded upon said shank, and a textile member-with a cement covered underside interposed between said cap and head.

6. n a V'tire plug, the combinationof a member having a socket therein provided with top and bottom openings thereinto, a flexible covering surrounding said metallic member and extending over the rear of said socket, a shank rovided with an end slidably and rotatably engaging within said socket, and a clamp cooperating with said shank. j

7. In a tire plug, the combination cfa 4head embodying a single, integral metallic member provided with a socket therein with top and bottom openings thereinto, a closure for the bottom o ening of said socket, and a rubber cap mo ded around said metallic member, a shank rovided with an end slidabl and rotataldly engaging within said soc et, and a clamp coperating with said shank. i

8. vIn a tire plug, the lcombination of a head embodying a metallic member provided with a socket therein having abrupt walls, an `o ening into the to and a bottom closure for t e bottom of sai socket held between its abrupt walls, and a rubber ca molded around said metallic member, a s ank pro' vided with anend rotatably engaging within said socket, and a clamp `coperating'with said shank. f

l ROBERTSAMPSON. Witnesses:

AUGUSTUS E. INGRAM,- B AIN L. CAMPBELL.

clam A, 4. IIn a tire plug, .the combinatlon- -of a\ a socket therein', a 'screw threaded shank provided with an offset end, formed by bending the shank toone side, en

erative cap4 Y, a ilexible,

head embodying a single, integral, metallic head, having a socket therein, with a shank l 

